The Sirsasana Sequence

In the last days the ‘seven deadly’ headstands have been my best companions. They finish off the intermediate Ashtanga yoga series. Usually at that point my body is rather exhausted and I can only think of food. In a way this is the perfect point for the headstand series because it invites you re-focus. Ashtanga is such a great practise because it is like a moving mediation. The constant flow of the breath and the counting of the vinyasa induce a highly introspect and meditative state.

Also, each asana requires such attention that the mind simply has no chance to come up with anything else but: “how to do this right now”.

There is only space for now in the Ashtanga practise.

So when I start to slow down in the practise towards the end and the mind really wants to jump to what to do next, the headstands bring the focus back to the centre. In every way. Because there are seven consecutive positions they cannot be done half way or half minded. If I lose the attention only one second I lose my balance and I am not properly prepared for the next variation. The system of Ashtanga is so cleverly devised that one asana builds onto the next and if you cheat or do one asana half way it will be felt in the next.

This is why Ashtanga is so strict. But in a loving way. It asks only the best of you every day and full attention. If you cheat you notice it immediately, there is no hiding.

I always loved that. I do not want to hide. I know I have some things to resolve still in this life. But I do not want to delay or hide more than I must before I am fully ready. So each day, Ashtanga gives me the opportunity to check in and see what is left in hiding. Why I just don’t lower padmasana all the way in Karandavasana.  Why I don’t jump up with both legs.

At the same time, when the question comes up like this during practise there is no judgement, one simply observes and lets go because there are only 5 breaths to contemplate each pose. There is no chance to get stuck in any asana. You try your best on the day and then let it go.

It is like zooming in on something particular very intensely for 5 breaths and then release it back into the universe.

There is also something about ‘really trying’. I find this in teaching but also in my own practise. Sometimes I practise an asana for years and it never changes. At some stage it comes to my attention and I realise that I simply never put sincere effort into the depth of it. 

All of these different strands and the infinite more that are revealed each day and that weave the pattern of asana are brought into some form of centrifugal concentration with the sirsasana variations at the end of the intermediate. Where is your mind? Where is your balance? Where is your concentration? Where is your sincere effort? Where is your strength? Where is your centre?

Thank you Ashtanga Guruji for this relentless pointing